DEAR Editor,-
I was dumbstruck, to say the least, when I read the article ‘Foreign national arrested for drug dealing’ in the Herald (March 14).
What is it that the authorities do not understand about the word ‘foreign’? It is of great concern to me as a South African citizen that the government can and will grant bail to these drug dealers who are destroying the youth of this country. Or do they not see this as a serious enough problem or offence?
It is mind-boggling to see these things happening. Come on, he is a Nigerian. What are the chances that he will ever go to prison? I will tell you – zero. He will simply disappear into the masses and open shop somewhere in the country, and if things get too hot, he will just hop over our uncontrolled borders.
Yes, the ANC government will have his R20 000 bail, but he will recoup that within a week. So, I have to ask the question – Has the legal system in South Africa now become a money-making industry?
In the old days, he would never have been granted bail, he would have been kept in custody and then deported back to Nigeria.
This incident is making a mockery of our judicial system and once again proves that Jacob Zuma is not serious about combating crime as he so boldly said in the state of the nation speech. This drug dealer will never see the the inside of a court, let alone a jail. I will bet my last dime on it.
CHRIS LUDICK
Uvongo
